The swampy mangrove that bordered Valta's territory had never really caught his attention before, but while he was working his way around the pack's border on an evening patrol, some movement from the corner of his eye pulled his gaze out toward the water logged trees. He thought for a moment that it was his mastiff catching up with him since Tine hadn't joined him for this patrol, but after slowing his steps and waiting there for a few moments the large dog never appeared. With a hum and a curious furrow of his brow, Ciná turned away from the border and started to move further into the trees. It was probably nothing–at least that's what he told himself–but just in case it was another bear lurking around their pack he figured he'd better go check it out. Every time he thought he had caught up to whatever was rustling in the brushes or shifting in the shadows it always seemed to move a bit further away. Frowning uncertainly, he pressed ahead, keeping his golden eyes peeled for whatever was out in this unsettling territory.

"Cináed"

Three wolfish borzoi stand before you, shifting with anticipation. Their glowing green eyes flitter and dance with an ethereal excitement. To your left, a pale and excitable wolf beckons, their tail wagging fervently behind them. In the center, a mournful wolf who's coat is such a pure slate, it seems as if she's tinged blue. To your right stands a dark abrasive looking wolf who's eyes are barely visible under his furrowed brow as he impatiently awaits your decision. In fact, it seems they are all waiting for you to make a choice between the three.

Who do you choose?

Easy Route: The Gleeful Guide

This route poses minimal risk, but also lesser rewards.
Risks: Scarring, small loss of gems/skill points

Medium Route: The Sorrowful Guide

This route poses some risk and moderate rewards.
Risks: Scarring, cosmetic disfigurement, temporary disabilities, moderate loss of gems/skill points

Hard Route: The Irascible Guide

This route poses the most risk and greater rewards.
Risks: Scarring, cosmetic disfigurement, permanent disabilities, higher loss of gems/skill points

His scouting through the mangrove came to an abrupt end as a trio of dogs suddenly stepped into his path, making him stop as he looked between the three uncertainly. If they all looked as friendly as the ivory one he might be less wary, but the other two made him a little less certain. Maybe it was just his original intent of looking for threats, but the darkest one that had appeared to his right pulled his attention the most. If any of the three felt like it was going to have malicious intent it was the one with an impatient, furrowed brow. It probably would have been easy enough to turn back now and call for some backup, but he couldn't quite tell if this was really a threat or not. For now he decided to press forward, drifting closer to the darkest of the dogs. "Looks like you're waiting for me so lets go," he said lightly with a grin, trying to make light of the situation as usual.

ooc: picking the hard route!

"Cináed"

The grumpy wolf's brow relaxes just slightly when you choose him. He seems to give you a moment to reconsider. After a moment, the tough looking wolf grunts in approval and turns to lead.

As you follow, a thick smoke rolls in and masks sight and smell. Through watery eyes, you are barely able to follow the guide, but eventually the smoke begins to clear and you are hit with the strong smell of Sulphur. You take a step forward and the guide pulls you back slightly. Blinking the rest of the tears out of your eyes, you realize you're on the edge of a steep chasm- a chasm filled with bubbling lava. One wrong move and it's over.

The guide motions to a wobbly wooden bridge that connects down into a cave on the other side of the canyon.

What do you do?

Strength: Dash across before the bridge can collapse.

If you're fast, the bridge won't have a chance to collapse!

Charisma: Make the guide go first.

This was his idea, so make him go first.

Dexterity: Balance lightly between the planks evenly as you go.

Most of the planks seem stable enough. If you balance evenly, surely none of them will break.

Wisdom: Evaluate the safest planks to walk on.

If you take your time, you can pick out the safest planks.

Leave.

Leave and exit the event.

Once the dark coated canine began to move, Ciná knew he was committed to seeing this through—even though the smoke that began to roll in around him immediately began to make him doubt. “Hey, wait up!” he called to his guide at one point between coughing and blinking tears from his eyes as he began to lose sight of him, but he managed to keep up until the dog finally stopped him. It was only then that he was able to rub his eyes and look around at where they were… and take a very quick step back from the edge of the chasm that was suddenly at his feet.

”What the fuck?” he muttered under his breath, peering uncertainly down at the lava below. “Where are we?” He didn’t get an answer to that question though. Instead, he was pointed toward some pieces of wood that could loosely be called a bridge. It was clear that his guide intended for him to cross it. Not knowing where he was or where else to go, he stepped over to the makeshift bridge and examined it carefully. While none of it looked particularly stable, he tried to pick out the parts of the bridge and the pieces of the wood that seemed thickest and most secure before he began to cautiously cross.

ooc: Picking the wisdom option!

"Cináed"

You observe the planks one by one. Some are well worn, some are charred. You do your best to pick the most solid looking ones. Your eyes burn against the heat of the lava, but eventually your observant nature pays off and you find yourself on the other side safely. The guide follows with a smirk that he quickly wipes from his face with a huff as he leads you into the cave ahead. Before you enter, you find 148 glimmering gemstones and snatch them up.

Inside the cave, warm lava lights the way. Small pools bubble and small streams flow from tiny cracks in the walls. Several boulders act as stepping stones across larger gaps, and small wooden bridges span other areas. Around the walls of the room, a thin edge navigates above any threat of lava. It is clear you need to get to the end of this room if you wish to continue your journey.

What do you do?

Strength: Take the stepping stones.

The stepping stones look sturdy and all you have to do is jump a little.

Charisma: Ask the guide to lead the way.

The guide should know the way through the pass.

Dexterity: Take the thin edge.

Creeping on the thin edge keeps you above and away from danger.

Wisdom: Take the bridges.

The bridges are obviously there for a reason, so use them.

Leave.

Leave and exit the event.

Once they made it inside he was confronted with even more lava and even more ways to get around or over it. He wanted to question his "guide" more about why he was here or how he had transported him here, but given the situation he was in he felt like it was better to not irritate the canine too much. The last thing he wanted was to be abandoned here with no idea how to get home. Looking around the chamber, he began to pick out some options for how to get to the other side. The thin bridges and the larger stones were obvious choices and while he wasn't sure his larger frame could manage it he did pick out a thin edge to the chamber that could take him around all the lava pools. He eyed the stepping stones for a moment longer, debating whether or not that was any better than crossing the bridges, but ultimately be moved over to the closest bridge. There had to be a reason that these were set up this way just how the one he had previously crossed had been. He began carefully picking his way across, keeping his golden gaze fixed on the path ahead and watching for any signs that the wood might give out so he could leap to the next closest stone if he had to.

ooc: picking the wisdom option!

"Cináed"

You decide to use the bridges. They seem to have stood the test of time, being singed here and there. They're easy to cross, and you progress steadily until one snaps out from under you. You scramble at the surface just enough to save yourself from falling in with a little help of the guide. The lava sputters, splashing you across your left front paw. The lava singes through your fur, leaving a deep burn across the entire paw. Ouch! that's gonna leave a scar.

Across the lava room stands a flat piece of smooth stone, so level and flat, it is as if thousands of paws had worn it over time. It looks cool to the touch and vaguely important. Surrounding it is a mote of lava, separated only by sharp stalagmites that impale it to point towards the open ceiling. There is no discernible path across. You know you must get there one way or another, but you're not sure you'll be able to go back the same way you came if you cross.

What do you do?

Strength: Jump over the gap.

If you push off real hard, you can close the gap... probably.

Charisma: Ask the guide to help.

Maybe just this once...? He's got to know something!

Dexterity: Use the stalagmites as stepping stones.

If you're careful, some of the tips of the stalagmites look wide enough to balance on.

Wisdom: Build a bridge with the materials from the other room.

It'll take a while, but it should work...

LAST CHANCE TO LEAVE.

If you proceed further, you will not be able to leave. Abandoned threads may result in failed rolls.
Risks: Scarring, cosmetic disfigurement, permanent disabilities, higher loss of gems/skill points

It appeared–at least at first–that his assumptions about the time worn bridges were correct. Up close it was obvious that they had stood the test of time for a reason so he felt pretty confident in his choice... up until the point where he felt one of the boards crack and splinter under his feet. With a gasp he scrambled and quickly climbed his way back to safety, gladly taking the help of the dark-coated guide when it was offered to him. He grimaced and grit his teeth at the sharp, searing pain from the splash of lava that cut across his paw, the hot, molten material searing straight through to his skin. It certainly wasn't a pleasant feeling, but if it was that or falling face first into the lava pool this was certainly the better outcome. "Thanks," he said with a sigh once he was on solid ground again and on the other side of this obstacle.

Moving forward and doing his best to focus on the path ahead instead of his seared paw, Ciná looked around at the wide piece of flat, smooth stone that dominated the next space. With a glance over at his guide he could tell that he was expected to find a way to get across the moat, though there was no obvious path forward that he could see. With a hum he considered it, eyeing the surrounding stalagmites and glancing behind him the way he came. After his mishap on the bridges he wasn't too keen on using the planks from before to get across now, but he liked that idea better than attempting to jump across or find some way to balance on the pointed stones. While wondering why he was doing this all, Ciná went back to the previous room and began to drag some of the more sturdy looking pieces of the old bridges so he could reconstruct them in this new room to make himself–and his guide–a way across.

ooc: picking the wisdom option!

"Cináed"

You decide that building a bridge across is your best bet. Gathering materials from the other room, you get to building, only stopping once you're sure the bridge is sturdy.

You begin to make your way across, though when you're nearly at the other side you feel the materials begin to splinter and crack beneath you. You try to scramble to the other side, but you feel yourself falling...

All you remember is the hot blazing heat and then... cool darkness. You awake outside of the chasm on a smooth, flat rock.

A familiar form kneels beside you, tending your wounds. It takes several blurry moments to realize this is not your guide, but a cluster of fireflies in a cloak the same color as your guide's fur. Your injuries are blindingly painful, but you will live; you can tell somehow by the way the fireflies buzz around you. One in particular will stand out, a deep, ugly wound that lies across your throat, that will leave an impressive scar (about 6 inches long). You feel less knowledgeable at having gone on that adventure as well, losing 59 intellect skill points.

You realize loosely how little sense that makes and you wonder if this is real, but a warm force closes your eyes and bids you to think of home, of safety. When you awake next, you are in a safe place, one which you might have imagined.

Three wolfish borzoi bow their heads in appreciation. Thank you for playing the Halloween 2023 event! All is calm as you look out, but there's no telling what's on the horizon... or perhaps even under it...

Look forward to peeks into the event, hiccups, and maybe some hints into the next adventure!

You Gained This Along the Way...

• 148 Gems
  

You Lost These Along the Way...

• Medium scar - left front paw
  
• Major scar - throat,
  
• -59 Intellect skill points